Skidway



(N0 Modem GIVEN SKID WAY.

No. 299,376. Patented May 27", 1884.

, Orricn.

JOSHUA L. GIVEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SKl DWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,376, dated May 27, 1884.

Application filed April 21, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSHUA L. GIVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skidways, of which the following is a description.

Thisinvention relates to that class of devices used for sliding merchandise from a high to a low point, or from one story of a building to another story below it; and its object is to slide such merchandise from one story of a building to another without the aid of a car, and yet without danger to the box, barre], or contents from sudden jolts.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming a skidway, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, part in section, of a stairway, showing my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section at x x of Fig. 1.

A represents a flight of stairs. B B are two skid-timbers, starting on the lower door, 0, parallel therewith, ending at the top D, parallel with the slant of the stairs, and shaped midway in the are of a neat curve, to which the said two ends form tangents.

E E are metallic shoes, fastened on the upper faces of the skids, on which barrels may be placed to slide endwise, as shown at F, or upon which large boxes or sacks may slide. The object of the metal shoes is to produce a smoother and more even track than could well be produced of wood, and one which will wear longer.

G G are two bottom strips, bent to conform to the skids near their bottoms, and firmly secured to them. to form therewith a trough in which small boxes, sacks, and packages may be slid down. The skids are placed to one side of the stairway, to allow the use thereof as a footway. A space is left between the bottom strips, G, to allow the trough to be kept clear of obstructions and to permit the stairs to be reached in case of emergency. The lower ends of the skids are curved on top and the shoes E are curved to fit, to let any merchandise down to the floor easily.

I am aware that straight skids shod with metal are common, and I do not claim them as my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a pair of skids shaped at their lower ends to rest upon a floor parallel therewith, shaped at their upper ends to rest on a flight of stairs parallel therewith, and shaped midway in a curve to which the two ends are tangent, of a pair of shoes'secured upon the upper sides of the said skids, conforming to their shape, as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a pair of skids shaped as described, of a pair of bottom strips secured between them near their bottoms at a little distance apart, as and for the purpose specified.

JOSHUA L. GIVEN.

\Vitnesses:

SAML. W. hIOSER, CHARLES BROWN. 

